As a dad and lifelong competitor, I’ve always been wired for progress. I grew up in the pool as a collegiate swimmer, but it was never just about the races. It was the discipline. The structure. The grind. Those habits shaped how I train and how I show up as a father today.
After college, fitness became my anchor. More recently, I leaned into endurance training, the kind that forces you to measure everything. That focus is what pushed me toward WHOOP back in 2021. I wanted data. I wanted clarity. And the biggest variable holding me back was the one I didn’t expect. Alcohol wasn’t wrecking my life, but it was wrecking my recovery.
The tricky part was social life. Saying no when everyone else is saying yes wears you down. It felt like the only way to participate was to drink, even when I didn’t want to sacrifice a morning run or drag through breakfast with my kids.
By 2023, I wanted a reset. So I committed to a dry year. That decision led me to Athletic Brewing, and it immediately became the solution I didn’t know I needed. It let me keep the ritual without the slowdown. A cold beer after work. A beer with friends. A beer on the weekend. Same experience. Better outcomes.
Two years later, there is always a six pack of Run Wild, Free Wave, or Athletic Lite in my fridge. Before, I used to rush through drinks without really tasting them. Now I slow down and actually enjoy them. One or two at dinner is plenty, and the flavor stands on its own.
What surprised me most is how normal everything still feels. I can hang with friends, celebrate wins, and keep the social connection, all while staying aligned with my training. No foggy mornings. No sluggish workouts. No wasted Saturdays. It’s the same ritual, just with a better tradeoff. And the more I bring NA options around, the more people around me try them too.
There’s also the example my kids get to see. They watch their dad unwind with something that never changes who he is. They see consistency. The same person at night and in the morning. They see someone who can relax and celebrate while staying present. That matters to me. It shows them that balance is possible.
On weekends, I still get the urge to reward myself after a long run or a few hours of yard work. Athletic Brewing gives me that satisfying moment without the drag. I get the dopamine hit, the refresh, and I’m still fully engaged with my family afterward.
If you’re curious, just mix in an Athletic on your next night out. Keep your edge. Keep the fun. Keep the next morning. You might find the switch happens faster than you expect.
